Georgian PM admits water cannons contained additives, questions whether substance was banned

Kobakhidze on alleged use of camite

Georgian prime minister Irakli Kobakhidze has acknowledged that water cannons used to disperse protests in November and December 2024 contained an added substance. However, he denies that the chemical was camite — a World War I–era choking agent.

“The substance was indeed added. The key question is whether it was a banned one. The Interior Ministry has already confirmed that camite was never purchased or used, including under the previous government,” Kobakhidze said.

BBC finds Georgian authorities may have used WWI-era chemicals against protesters

“It felt like the water was burning,” bbc quotes one protester hit by a water cannon

Asked whether the Interior Ministry intends to publish information about what exactly was added to the water cannons, Kobakhidze said that details would be made public once the investigation is complete.

“The Interior Ministry has already exposed the BBC for spreading falsehoods, and on this basis we will appeal both to the UK’s regulatory authorities and to international courts. The BBC must retract the misinformation it has circulated,” Kobakhidze added.

According to the prime minister, if the use of camite is ultimately confirmed, former interior minister Vano Merabishvili will be held responsible.

Georgia’s state security service launches investigation amid BBC report

The investigation aims to determine how credible and relevant this information is

On 1 December, the BBC published an investigation claiming that, according to evidence it had gathered, the Georgian authorities used camite — a First World War–era chemical agent — to disperse anti-government protests in November 2024.

Kobakhidze on alleged use of camite